Game of Vampires: A Reverse Harem Serial (Part One) Read online

  GAME OF VAMPIRES

  A Reverse Harem Serial

  Part One

  ROSETTE BOLTER

  PART 2 IS NOW AVAILABLE!

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WXQG67

  CHAPTER ONE

  Before the harem, before the night she met the vampire lords, Theresa Chantley was just one of ten nurses on their knees in the Princess’s orchard, hard at work. In front of them were row after row of the Princess’s prized crimson-leafed bushels, each growing several dozen of the world’s rarest plant – the Blood Flower. It was the Blood Flower that had ended the war between humans and vampires – the Blood Flower which saved thousands, perhaps millions of people becoming food for the afflicted night walkers. And it could only be grown here. In this orchard. In this garden.

  Theresa was but a humble nurse, and knew little of the orchard’s history, but she was aware that the Princess had befriended a Warlock known as Lord Fane and together they had constructed this place. The old human laws were once again prevalent across the lands and vampires were no longer allowed to kill for blood, making Blood Flower enterprise the only legal means of keeping the afflicted alive. It had made both the Princess and Warlock wealthier than they already were.

  Theresa of course knew nothing of wealth. She was grateful for the stale breads and tasteless stews she was given to eat every second or third day. She was grateful for the mattress she had to sleep on. The thin blanket that steered back some of the cold. These were things that could be taken away. Theresa had seen nurses come and go. Through the castle gates in rags and chains they came. At the back of carts piled with corpses they went. It was so hard for many nurses to know their place. So hard to appreciate the notion of being alive. If Theresa hadn’t learned unwavering obedience, and loyalty to the Princess Emberlynn, then she too would have been part of the pile.

  Instead, she was here.

  She’d lived long enough to see this day.

  “Nurse Chantley?”

  Theresa looked up. It was one of the Princess’s guards.

  “The Princess has asked for your presence in her private chambers.”

  Theresa’s mouth fell open. “My – my presence…?”

  Surely there was some mistake.

  “You are Nurse Chantley, aren’t you?”

  Theresa nodded.

  “Well, it is my instruction to inform you that the Princess wishes to see you immediately. She’s in the royal wing. If you know how to get there.”

  “I do.” Theresa stood up. “Will the guards know to let me through?”

  “Yes, they’ve been informed.”

  “Oh.”

  “Hurry along then. Don’t dawdle. The Princess won’t like it if you keep her waiting.”

  “No, of course not. Thank you.”

  Theresa turned and hurried away.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Since it had been three days since Theresa had last eaten, the smells wafting out of the royal kitchen caused her some nausea. Meats and vegetables and gravies entered through her nostrils and triggered parts of her brain which remembered the days where she ate real food – and not a couple of times a week – every day. It wasn’t in Theresa’s nature to be jealous or covet the things of others. She didn’t dare submit to the hopes and dreams her wandering mind might take her. But there came a point where the hunger ceased being so overwhelming it became numb. Where it stopped hanging out in the background somewhere, killing her slowly. In moments like these she felt less human, and more like a ravenous beast with a bottomless pit to fill. If she only knew then how close she already was…

  Princess Emberlynn was facing away from the door when Theresa announced herself in the chamber. The Princess was over by the window, combing her long golden hair with a brush. A sad, bitter loathing captured on her face even at its side.

  “I am at your disposal, my lady,” Theresa said lowering herself to the floor.

  “You can come forward, into the room,” the Princess said. “So you’re closer to me.”

  Theresa stood up and moved across the wide room. Around the corner she spied a buffet of exotic cakes and deserts. The colors spilled into Theresa’s mind and she felt faint.

  “How long have you been in our service, Nurse Chantley?” the Princess asked. “Do you recall an approximate time?”

  Theresa considered. “It was some weeks after my sixteenth birthday. And I’m twenty now, so…”

  “I suppose it isn’t that long. It just feels long. Don’t you think?”

  “If you say so.”

  The Princess turned a little towards her. “You wouldn’t say that time flies in the orchard, would you?”

  “I…”

  “Speak up.”

  “I don’t know what that is. Time flying.”

  The Princess snorted. “I thought even peasants had a basic grasp of the common language. Though I suppose it isn’t your fault. You have trouble reading then, I suppose?”

  Theresa shook her head. “Not really.”

  The Princess looked back out the window. “You may be a fool, and had fools for parents, but your obedience has not gone unnoticed. Of all my servants in this castle, your constant striving to please in the face of harsh conditions has for the time separated you from the pack. No doubt, you are obviously a weak character and simple-minded, but you have also proven yourself loyal. I have decided to impart with you some trust. With trust comes higher duties. Are you following me, Nurse Chantley?”

  “I believe so,” Theresa answered.

  “When did you last have a meal?”

  “Three days, my lady.”

  “Do you know why that is?”

  Theresa lowered her head. “Because you don’t feel I deserve to eat.”

  “You deserve to be cast out and hunted by the night stalkers for sport, but what you deserve has nothing to do with my treatment of you. The reason I keep supplies limited to my servants is so that I can separate the disobedient from the obedient. The disobedient will lie and steal to keep themselves from going hungry. The obedient will suffer. If I fed you all I would never know who could be trusted in the event of crisis. You have proven you are trustworthy. To this point.”

  “Thank you, my lady.”

  The Princess turned again. Moved away from the window. “Don’t think for one second I hold your character with any type of esteem. A woman of bravery, of strength and courage would no doubt rebel against my mistreatment. In a way I would respect them. I would respect them and of course they would be exterminated.”

  The Princess moved by her in the direction of her dresser.

  “You, I do not respect, Nurse Chantley. You are the lowest rung of individual. Submissive, subservient, and feeble of mind. These qualities earn my trust but not my respect. And hopefully you will learn that to a lowly individual such as you, my trust is far more valuable than my respect.”

  Princess Emberlynn was still combing her hair in the mirror.

  “You may go fetch something sweet from the table to nourish yourself. When you are finished you may use the bathroom down the hall to clean and dress yourself. New clothes have been prepared. When that is completed you can report back here to me to receive your work orders. Okay?”

  Theresa looked from the Princess to the table with all the chocolates and slices and pastries and –

  “My lady,” Theresa said, quivering. “May I say something?”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not feeble minded. I’m not a fool. I’m not weak either.”

  The Princess’s neck rose sharply. “But I just said that’s what you are. Are you daring to argue with me?”

&nb
sp; “I’m not arguing. I just thought you should know. The only reason I’m obedient is because I know what would happen to me if I wasn’t. My suffering isn’t weakness. My lack of resistance isn’t cowardice. What I endure here, day to day, takes strength.”

  The Princess put her brush down.

  She faced Theresa, her eyes narrow and penetrating.

  “Well now you must choose, Nurse Chantley. It is my request that you go nourish yourself with the cakes on the table. Either be my little kitten and do as I ask you, or show me your strength and walk out the door hungry. Choose. Now.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  The Princess didn’t realize it, but the concept of a choice was empowering to Theresa. Both options were legitimate. On the surface of things, a case could be made for either. Succumbing to the Princess’s lure of food and a bath, Theresa would lower herself further into her grasp. She could feel her pride and dignity being stripped bare from her. To show an act of defiance, to resist even though it could put her life in danger, perhaps that would be the true show of courage. Theresa was careful in her thinking. Every second she had to make the choice was one she valued. She could already see by her hesitation that the Princess was getting angrier by the minute. And perhaps it soon wouldn’t be Theresa’s choice to make.

  “I apologize,” Theresa finally said. “It was rude to contradict, my lady.”

  She turned and walked away from the beautiful woman, and stood in front of the desert buffet. Waiting for the Princess’s consent.

  “Apology accepted,” the Princess said. “You may fill one plate. Then sit and eat it on the floor in front of me.”

  Theresa picked up the ceramic dish. She lifted one chocolate fudge slice away from the table. One lemon and custard slice. Three rum balls. A dozen cherries. Two scoops of cream.

  She poured herself a glass of water and then took the glass and plate to sit in front of the Princess with it.

  Princess Emberlynn had her hands on her lap. Fingers interlocked.

  She was drawing amusement from this.

  “Eat then,” she commanded. “And show as little pleasure from it as possible.”

  Piece by piece. Bite by bite.

  In five minutes the entire plate was empty and clean.

  Theresa stooped over, a sickly mix of exhilaration and overindulgence punching her in the gut.

  The Princess stood over her and put her fingers in Theresa’s hair.

  “You have no idea what’s going to happen to you, my little kitten,” the Princess said soothingly. “But I promise you this. You have made the correct choice. And you will soon be rewarded for it.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The water was fresh and clean. The perfect heated temperature. The soap came in small glass bottles. The smells and fragrances blossoming with every breath of air. Theresa’s hair became untangled. Rinsed, washed. Scented like the rest of her.

  Out of the bath with her feet dripping on a soft towel, Theresa felt like a new person. Like she’d just woken up. As though the day was about to begin again. She combed her hair and tidied her nails and eventually slipped into the gown laid out for her. It was red. Shiny red silk. Theresa hadn’t worn such a thing in her life. But here she was. Not a humble garden nurse. She was a lady.

  The wardrobes were open wide in the Princess’s chambers on her return. The Princess helped her choose out a proper gown for her to wear – a formal gown. A princess’s gown. Theresa could not begin to grasp why the Princess wanted her to wear her clothes. Unless she was anticipating Theresa’s look of horror when she took them away.

  “You can relax,” the Princess said, moving around the room. “I’m no longer testing you. You may speak freely from now on.”

  “Freely?”

  “Freely and honestly. I am about to assign you a task which carries some danger so any concerns you have should be laid out now. Before it is too late.”

  The Princess was over on her queen-sized bed. She patted the quilt beside her so that Theresa would join her. There was no other option.

  “Have you seen much of the world, Nurse Chantley? Before you were brought here.”

  Theresa was caught off guard. The past held raw wounds.

  “I mostly just stayed within my village in the east,” she said. “Sometimes we would visit other villages or even the main city, but not much more than that.”

  “Which village were you from exactly?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Theresa said. “It’s gone now.”

  “I don’t suppose you’ve ever been to Lord Fane’s keep?”

  “No.”

  “You don’t have any family or friends in that area. No one who might recognize you?”

  “No.”

  “Tell me, were you taught much about the vampires?”

  Theresa hesitated.

  “Well,” the Princess continued, “did you ever meet one?”

  “I … I saw them. From a distance.”

  “Did they frighten you?”

  Theresa nodded.

  “Sometimes they frighten me too,” the Princess went on. “However some certain vampires are known to be very powerful, and influential.”

  “Like who?”

  “Like the rulers of the four vampire houses. You do know about them, don’t you? You do know where all the flower blood is being sent…”

  Theresa stood up from the bed. Pretending to be the Princess’s pet was one thing, but this talk of vampires was making her feel quite uneasy.

  “I’m talking about the vampire lords,” the Princess said. “Do you know about them?”

  “Yes, of course,” Theresa said. “They’re not coming here are they?”

  “Heavens no,” the Princess answered. “At least not at this time. The fact of the matter is though my presence has been requested in Lord Fane’s keep. Each of the four vampire lords wishes to meet with me together, and then independently. They wish to court me.”

  The Princess stood up from the bed. She put her hands-on Theresa and spun her around.

  “I have my doubts of course,” the Princess said. “My friend the Warlock, Lord Fane, believes at least one of the vampires wishes to do away with me once I am at their mercy. They would then come here and destroy my orchard. Without the blood of the flower, it will be very hard to keep the vampires from attacking the humans. Whoever it is that wants me dead, also wants a supreme vampire rule of these lands. Which is why of course I cannot go.”

  The Princess’s hands fell from Theresa’s shoulders. She smiled and turned and walked towards the window.

  “Oh, I know what you must be thinking, Nurse Chantley. Why worry about one bad apple when I’ll have three other deliciously dark and powerful night stalkers lusting after my body. Begging me to be theirs. It almost seems like it would be worth the risk, don’t you agree?”

  Theresa took a step towards her. “Are you saying you haven’t made your mind up yet?”

  “About what?”

  “About whether or not you’re going.”

  “I have already decided.” The Princess turned back to her. “What have I decided, Nurse Chantley?”

  A moment passed.

  Then Theresa’s mouth dropped. “Oh no. No, no, no, no –”

  “Yes,” the Princess said firmly. “Yes, my kitten. The horses are already waiting. You’ll arrive at the keep by sundown.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Theresa could not resist the Princess’s request. She had already eaten the desert. Already taken the bath. Already put on the gown. What would it have been should she have chosen to defy her lady? Back to the blood garden milking those brambly thorns? Her knees scuffed and dirty. Her hands sore and callous. Meanwhile another nurse would be summoned to the Princess’s chambers. Some other nurse in the carriage now. With a full stomach. And pretty clothes. A reason to live.

  Theresa’s task was simple: Find the traitor.

  Simple – that was a joke. By the time Theresa figured out which of the vampire lords wanted her dead, the si
tuation might be a tad difficult. Wherever she was when that happened – alone with them most likely, at their mercy – she would then have to escape their clutches and run to the Warlock, Lord Fane who would (hopefully?) protect her.

  Then there was the possibility one of the vampires might realize she wasn’t the Princess after all. Never mind that they might not actually buy her appearance – something small like not being able to answer a question properly, or exhibiting mannerisms not consistent with the upper class – it could be enough to cause suspicion.

  There was no way around it.

  This was going to be dangerous.

  Theresa tried not to think about it. She kept the windows inside the carriage a tad open as she made her journey across the trails. Occasionally she looked out. Breathed in the air. Listened to the sounds. In her mind she saw squirrels running up trees and ducks flapping about a pond. Geckos purred and eagles sailed through the sky. There was something about the woods, about nature, that drew Theresa in. That reminded her of the past. There was a freedom she had lost – a freedom that went beyond being the Princess’s captive or serving a life committed to struggle. In this age of sophistication the humans had become estranged from their place in the animal kingdom. And all the birds and reptiles and tiny creatures – they were like long lost brothers and sisters still living in that other time. Inside nature. With days that last forever until –

  Theresa sprang up as the carriage halted.

  She’d dozed off at some point. Fallen asleep with the gentle breeze passing over her.

  Outside the light had dimmed. The sky was orange and grey.

  They had arrived at the Warlock’s keep as the Princess said they would.

  With the giant doors of the keep opening, and the guards shuffling about, making way…

  A frog crawled up into Theresa’s throat.

  No turning back now.